Introduction

W ant a new adventure? Come on an exciting journey through God’s

Word with the NIrV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions: Polar
Exploration Edition.
Here is a 365-day polar-­themed devotional to help you grow closer to God
and to get to know more about yourself and the world around you—­while
having a ton of fun doing it! Each day has a Bible verse for you to think about,
a topic that relates to kids your age, and a prayer or fun do-­it-­yourself activity.
You will learn all kinds of new things and interesting facts about the Bible,
God, and his creation. From the artwork, biblical truths, and hands-­on activi-
ties, you will have a polar adventure like no other. And if you happen to skip
a day, don’t worry! You can read the devotions any day of the year.
But there’s more . . .
From the NIrV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions, you can also:

• Look up each day’s verse in your Bible

• Talk to your parents about the topics and interesting facts
• Create the action-­packed activities with a friend

After all, why keep the adventure to

yourself?
So, strap on your hiking boots, mittens,
and knit cap and start the NIrV Adventure
Bible Book of Devotions: Polar Exploration
Edition today. What are you waiting for?

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 1

Let the Adventure

Begin!
See what amazing love the Father has given us! Because of it,
we are called children of God. And that’s what we really are!
—1 John 3:1a

R eady for the best adventure of your life? Is it a boat ride on the ocean?
A train ride through the mountains? A camping trip next to a stream?
How about a trip to Norway, New Zealand, or the North Pole? Any of those
places would be a blast, but this type of adventure is better than that!
The God of the universe wants a relationship with you. Yes, it’s true!
He created you, loves you, and calls you his child. Amazing, huh? And
guess what? You can choose to love God back. How? By making him the
center of your life. If you do that, you will be able to stand strong against
any challenge that comes your way. Ready to start an adventure with
the God who loves you? Awesome!
Grab a pen and a piece of paper and write a letter to God. Tell him
everything you want him to know about you.

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 2

Special Gifts
God’s gifts of grace come in many forms. Each of you has
received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it
faithfully.
—1 Peter 4:10

W hat do you love to do? Shoot hoops? Draw? Play an instrument? Most
of the time we do what we enjoy because God has given us a spe-
cial gift. But here’s the thing: You’re not supposed to keep that gift only
for yourself. Sure, you can play basketball in your front yard. Or draw a
pretty picture and hang it on your wall. Or sit inside your house and prac-
tice the piano. There’s nothing wrong with that! However, God gave you
your special gift to serve others.
When you share your gift with others, you are also serving God. Why
not join a basketball team? Paint a picture for a friend? Or play the piano
for the elderly people in a nursing home? You have the chance to inspire
others and make people happy by using your gift. So be a faithful buddy
and glorify God with your gift!
Get out a piece of paper and draw a straight line down the center. On
the left side write down all the things you love to do. On the right side
write down how you can use your gifts to serve others. Then take a step
of faith and do it!

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 3

Faith not Fear!

Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified
because of them. The Lord your God will go with you. He will
never leave you. He’ll never desert you.
—­D euteronomy 31:6

D o you ever get afraid when your teacher calls on you in class? Maybe
you’re scared to take a spelling test or a math quiz. Or maybe you’re
afraid of the dark and going to bed sends chills down your spine. Should
you hide behind the person in front of you so that your teacher doesn’t see
you? Pretend to be sick so that you don’t have to take a test? Sleep with
your light on?
God will be with you when you are afraid. He will never leave you or
desert you. It doesn’t mean those jittery feelings will automatically
go away. In fact, you may always get a bit nervous when speaking
in front of the class, taking a test, or turning out the lights when
it’s time for bed. The difference is that you can be courageous
because God is right there beside you.
Dear God, thank you for never leaving me alone. Help
me to be strong and brave when I am afraid. Amen.

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 4

Friend Sharpener
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
—­Proverbs 27:17

W hat type of pencil would you rather use: a sharp one or an

unsharpened one? A sharp one, of course! That’s because a
sharp tip helps you write and draw better.
Do you have friends who help you be the best you can be? You
know, the type of people who encourage you to be more kind,
loving, and truthful? A kind person helps you be kinder. A loving
person shows you how to be more loving. And a truthful per-
son teaches you how to tell the truth. The Bible verse above
talks about this very thing! Not only does iron sharpen iron,
but good friends also sharpen each other to be better. Just as
a pencil needs a good sharpener, you need good friends who
sharpen you to be the best you can be.
Think of your best friends. What words would you use
to describe them? Caring? Generous? Honest? If all you
can come up with are negative words, like angry, mean,
and unkind, then it’s time to choose different friends.

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 5

Everyone Is Different
Christ has accepted you. So accept one another in order to bring
praise to God.
—­Romans 15:7

H ave you ever noticed that everyone has their own likes and dislikes?
Your sister may not love playing soccer like you, but she’s a great
singer. Your friend cheers for your least favorite sports team, but when
you hang out, he always makes you laugh. Sometimes it’s hard to accept
and love people when they are different than you. You might be tempted to
get frustrated with them, but doing that only makes the situation worse.
A better choice is to accept your siblings and friends for who God made
them to be. Let’s be honest—­t he world would be boring if everyone was
alike! By accepting others, you stop expecting them to be just like you.
We can be grateful and celebrate that God made everyone one of a kind.
It makes the world a much more interesting place!
Dear God, thank you for accepting me for who I am, and for making
everyone different. Help me to accept others. Amen.

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 6

Lions and Tigers

and Bears, OH MY!
Then God said, “Let us make human beings so that they are like us.
Let them rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky.
Let them rule over the livestock and all the wild animals. And
let them rule over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
—­G enesis 1:26

M any workers care for animals at the zoo. They feed the animals, help
them get enough exercise, and make sure their cages are clean. What
is your favorite animal? A polar bear? Penguin? Arctic fox? Or is it the
chimpanzee? Maybe you love to walk through the aviary and see all
the birds with their colorful beaks and feathers, or perhaps you enjoy
those polar bears and penguins.
Did you know God wants you to care for animals too? Whether
or not you have a pet at home, you can care for animals by tak-
ing care of the earth around you. Animals need a healthy
place to live, and it is our responsibility as caretakers of
the earth to help them. By recycling plastic bottles,
picking up trash, and walking or riding your bike
instead of riding in the car, you are keeping God’s
earth clean and protecting his creations.
Talk with your parents about ways your family can
care for animals and the earth. Visit an animal shelter,
clean up the beach, make a birdfeeder for your yard.
Small changes make a big impact!

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 7

Green Thumb
The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword
that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from
spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and
purposes of the heart.
—­H ebrews 4:12

D o you have a green thumb? That means you have a special skill for
growing plants and keeping them alive and healthy. How do you know
if something is alive? Are your toys alive? Rocks? Water? No, those things
are nonliving things. People, animals, and plants are examples of living
things because they can grow, move, breathe, and do a bunch of other
cool things.
The Bible says the word of God is alive. When you read and listen
to what the Bible says, God does something amazing to your heart and
mind. He helps you grow, just like someone with a green thumb who
keeps things alive. God’s Word can change you from the inside out. Wow!
Now that’s powerful.
Try to keep a plant alive for a couple of weeks by watering it and mak-
ing sure it gets the right amount of sun. Keep your heart and mind alive
by reading the Bible every day too.

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